James Douglas Waltermire (February 15, 1949 – April 8, 1988) was an American politician. Born in Choteau,

Teton County, Montana Teton County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,226. Its county seat is Choteau. The county was founded in 1893. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total ...

, Waltermire served on the

Missoula County, Montana Missoula County is located in the State of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 117,922, making it Montana's third-most populous county. Its county seat and largest city is Missoula. The county was founded in 1860. Missoula Coun ...

Board of Commissioners in 1977. In 1978, he lost the election to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

on the Republican Party ticket. From 1981 until his death in 1988, Waltermire served as

Montana Secretary of State The Secretary of State of Montana is one of the elected constitutional officers of executive branch of the U.S. state of Montana. The current Secretary of State is Christi Jacobsen. Organization The Secretary of State's Office is composed of fi ...

. Waltermire died in an airplane crash near the Helena Regional Airport in

Helena, Montana Helena (; ) is the capital city of Montana, United States, and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. Helena was founded as a gold camp during the Montana gold rush, and established on October 30, 1864. Due to the gold rush, Helena would ...

. Waltermire was seeking the Republican nomination for the office of the

Governor of Montana The governor of Montana is the head of government of MontanaMontana Constitution, Article VI, Section 4. and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. state, state's Montana National Guard, military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, ...

at the time of his death.'Waltermire left political mark at young age,' Spokanesman-Review, April 10, 1988, A15

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* 1949 births 1988 deaths People from Choteau, Montana Montana Republicans County commissioners in Montana Secretaries of State of Montana Accidental deaths in Montana Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States 20th-century American politicians {{Montana-politician-stub